Hy-Vee bans reusable bags, adds safety windows at checkout

Expanding its coronavirus (COVID-19) safety efforts, Hy-Vee has begun banning reusable shopping bags and deploying protective windows at checkout lanes.

The reusable bag policy went into effect on Friday, March 20. Hy-Vee said it’s banning the bags until further notice due to concerns about their cleanliness.

“Because it is not always easy to know the sanitization procedures customers are taking at their homes to keep the bags clean, this is one more way the grocer is helping prevent the spread of the virus,” the West Des Moines, Iowa-based supermarket chain said in a statement.

At Hy-Vee’s Des Moines-area stores, and in all other locations over the next few days, customers also will start seeing temporary window panels being installed at checkout to give employees and shoppers an extra layer of protection.

The reusable bag policy went into effect on Friday, March 20. Hy-Vee said it’s banning the bags until further notice due to concerns about their cleanliness.

Hy-Vee noted that checkout represents the store area in which customers and associates are in the closest contact, whereas in the aisles and at service counters, shoppers and staff have more flexibility in putting space between themselves and practicing social distancing. 

“The spread of this virus is asking us all to take extraordinary measures and change the way we live our lives,” Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee, said in a statement. “We are continuing to adapt at Hy-Vee so that we can serve our customers and keep everyone in our stores as safe and healthy as possible.”

Related:Hy-Vee to convert all Market Grille restaurants to Wahlburgers

Later on Friday, Hy-Vee announced that it's seeking temporary, part-time hourly employees for multiple positions in stores across its eight-state region, as well as in its distribution centers  in Chariton and Cherokee, Iowa. The company said that, with surging demand for groceries in response to COVID-19, it needs more hands to help with restocking shelves and cleaning and sanitizing stores. People who have temporarily lost their job due to the pandemic, are out of school, want to make extra money or simply want to help during this time also are welcome to apply, the retailer added.

Earlier this week, Hy-Vee began reserving one hour of shopping time prior to store opening for customers considered at high risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. Those ages 60 and older, expectant mothers and people with underlying health conditions now get exclusive access to shop at Hy-Vee stores from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., daily. The retailer had previously announced new store hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Related:Hy-Vee revamps store management structure, ends 24-hour operation

Pharmacies in most Hy-Vee locations also are extending hours to 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. to serve at-risk customers. These locations include pharmacies inside our grocery stores, Mainstreet locations, Dollar Fresh stores and Hy-Vee Drugstores.

Overall, Hy-Vee operates more than 265 stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.